Commentaries and translations have traditionally translated the preposition, rx), in 1 Sam 13,7b (wyrx) wdrx M(h) as either modifying the subject or indicating the «back» of Saul. However, the preposition is better explained as «following and imitating» so that the army trembled like Saul. Since Saul was afraid of the Philistines, his fear infects the army, which scatters from him. Therefore, Saul, according to the Davidic court historian, is an ineffective military leader.

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â€œ TREMBLED LIKE HIM â€ : REASSESSMENT 1 SAM 13,7B
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The author is not vague about Saulâ€™s fear; Saul trembles before the
Philistines. Out of sheer fear, Saul tries to inquire of God but fails
miserably. In desperation, through a medium, Saul consults the ghost of
Samuel who foresees only destruction. Upon hearing Samuelâ€™s words of
doom, Saul falls completely on the ground because he was filled with fear
(28,20). One could even argue that Saul kills himself out of fear of torture
from the Philistines (31,4) 21. In sum, the beginning of Saulâ€™s demise stems
from his initial fear of the Philistines which pervades his whole reign.
It is not clear whether the Davidic historian draws from an earlier
tradition or completely creates an image of a fearful leader in Saul. Yet it is
an effective criticism of Saul since a leader, especially a military leader,
needs to be fearless. God commands the paragon of a military leader, Joshua,
Be strong and courageous;
do not be frightened or dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (1,9) 22
Like Joshua, Saul, with God at his side (1 Sam 10,7), should not have
been afraid. Instead, he is fraught with terror.
Even before God rejects Saul, he is afraid which in turn weakens the
resolve of his army. Aside from disobeying God, why would the Israelites
want a king who is too weak to lead them? Unlike David, who fights
Goliath single-handedly and commands his men to victory against the
Philistines, Saul cracks under pressure. Consequently, the Davidic
historian attacks Saulâ€™s character as a leader. According to the historian,
Saul begins to disintegrate in his first battle against the Philistines;
therefore, he is unfit to lead.
Department of Christian Studies Samantha JOO
Seoul Womenâ€™s University
623 Hwarangno, Nowon-gu
Seoul 139-774, South Korea
Though the author does not explicitly mention Saulâ€™s fear, one could
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compare his situation with King Zedekiah, who refuses to surrender to the
Babylonians because of his â€œfearâ€ (gad) of â€œtortureâ€ (hithp. of ll[) under the
pro-Babylonian Judeans (Jer 38,19). One could also contrast Saulâ€™s armor-
bearer with Jonathanâ€™s armor-bearer. Whereas Jonathanâ€™s armor-bearer fights
the Philistines like his leader, Saulâ€™s armor-bearer is extremely afraid like him
(1 Sam 31,4).
Josh 8,1 and 10,25. As a matter of fact, people (Deut 1,21), prophets (Isa
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51,7 ; Jer 1,17; Ezek 2,6; 1 Chr 22,13), and kings (1 Chr 28,20; 2 Chr 20,15;
32,7) are encouraged not to fear.